Hypertext Webster Gateway: "distend"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Distend \Dis*tend"\, v. i.
To become expanded or inflated; to swell. ``His heart
distends with pride.'' --Milton.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Distend \Dis*tend"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Distended}; p. pr. &
vb. n. {Distending}.] [L. distendere, distentum, distensum;
dis- + tendere to stretch, stretch out: cf. F. distendre to
distend, d['e]tendre to unbend. See {Tend}, and cf.
{Detent}.]
1. To extend in some one direction; to lengthen out; to
stretch. [R.]
But say, what mean those colored streaks in heaven
Distended as the brow of God appeased? --Milton.
2. To stretch out or extend in all directions; to dilate; to
enlarge, as by elasticity of parts; to inflate so as to
produce tension; to cause to swell; as, to distend a
bladder, the stomach, etc.
The warmth distends the chinks. --Dryden.
Syn: To dilate; expand; enlarge; swell; inflate.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
distend
v 1: become wider; "His pupils were dilated" [syn: {dilate}]
2: swell from or as if from internal pressure; "The distended
bellies of the starving cows"
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